Telstra Business and Government Mobile Sales and Solutions Managing Director, Mr Murray Bergin, said Telstra introduced the CDMA service as a smarter way to help businesses connect to the service in more places.

"The feedback Telstra received when we launched our GSM service was very positive so it was important we were able to use our vast resources to make the service available to many more Australians," Mr Bergin said.

Mr Bergin said Telstra expected the CDMA PTT would benefit businesses in rural and regional Australia as well as those who require their workforces to travel long distances.

"The technological benefits and value of PTT have been recognised by customers across local government, hospitality, construction, logistics, security and transport. Now through the introduction of CDMA handsets and the launch of PTT on our CDMA network, our PTT service covers more than 98 per cent of the Australian population," Mr Bergin said.

Telstra's PTT CDMA service is priced at AU$50 per month for unlimited PTT usage, but currently only available to post-paid mobile plans. Additional 'pay-as-you-go' options are planned for 2005. All customers who connect to PTT prior to 31 October 2005, will receive up to 500 minutes PTT usage in the first month free.

With PTT, there is no dialling, ringing, or waiting for answers. Communication is in one direction at a time and only when the button is being pressed. The 'always-on' virtual connection is available nationally through Telstra's GSM or CDMA mobile networks. While currently PTT is not compatible between GSM and CDMA networks, Telstra expects this service to be made available in 2005.

Users can only make PTT calls to Telstra PTT customers, connected to the same Telstra network, either GSM or CDMA and set up to receive the call. A maximum of 6 active users can be associated with a group PTT CDMA call, although the company says this amount may be increased to a maximum of 20 for eligible customers.